Meet Our Staff
Mary Kate Gillispie, OTR/L
Managing Partner, Lead Occupational Therapist
Background Information
Mary Kate graduated with her Bachelor's from Tennessee Technological University, Magna Cum Luade. She proceeded to recieve her Master's in Occupational Therapy back in Nashville, TN before completing her Level II clinical placement at LHLF. Following her 'dream job' offer from Little Hands Little Feet Pediatric Therapies she happily decided to make Cookeville,TN home. She has substantial experience as an evaluating therapist for county-wide school systems and an affinity for orthopedics/splinting. Mary Kate has worked with several non-profit organizations that provide opportunities for inclusion of individuals with exceptional needs. Through travel, she has seen the importance of access to quality services.
Mary Kate became Lead Occupational Therapist, and Managing Partner, at Little Hands Little Feet Pediatric Therapies in 2018. Providing accessibility to quality, evidence-based therapeutic services that are individualized to every patient continues to be priority at LHLF. Currently, Mary Kate is in the process of completing her certification for the EASI (Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration).
Certifications + Areas of Interest:
Physical Agent Modalities
SOS Approach to Feeding
Handwriting Without Tears
Myofascial Release -- MFR I and II
Beckman Oral Motor
Sensory Integration + Parent Education
Primitive reflexs
Learning disabilities
Paula Pierce
Referral Specialist + Clinic Coordinator
Paula worked for 25 years in a variety of roles across three school systems in the state of Tennessee. These roles included RTI intervention and serving as a related services assistant in Putnam County for Occupational Therapy. After transitioning from her role in Putnam County, she joined Mary Kate at Little Hands Little Feet. Paula has grown in her role from administrative assistant to taking on portions of business operations, including referral coordination and medical billing.
Paula and her husband, Kenny, love to take on projects together at home and the clinic. She enjoys spending time gardening, is actively involved in her church, and can often be found with her 2 grand children at competitive cheerleading competitions.
She is referred to as our MVP (Most Valuable Paula) and she is an indispensable part of our team. She will always meet you with a smiling face and servant's heart when you walk up to the front desk!
Alyssa Szatmary, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Alyssa Szatmary graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in August of 2023 receiving her Master's in Occupational Therapy. Alyssa was a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) for 6 years at Little Hands Little Feet Pediatric Therapies before she transitioned into an evaluating role. Alyssa began her pediatric career at Little Hands Little Feet Pediatric Therapies in 2017 where she completed her level II fieldwork and began working the summer after graduation. Alyssa became interested in occupational therapy after her dad had to receive both physical and occupational therapy services after a car accident and she noticed as a child what a difference his therapist made in his independence in daily activities. She is currently working on obtaining her CLASI certification for Sensory Integration.
Certifications and Areas of Interest:
Certified Childhood Trauma Consultant
Physical Agent Modalities
Handwriting Without Tears
Myofascial Release -- MFR I and Pediatrics
Beckman Oral Motor
Torticollis, Emotional Regulation, Sensory Integration, Primitive Reflex Integration, and Executive Functioning Skills.
Denise Enochs COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Denise Enochs, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), graduated from Nashville State Community College in 2011. She has worked full-time at Putnam County Schools and part-time at Little Hands Little Feet Pediatric Therapies.
Denise became interested in occupational therapy when she saw the dramatic improvement in her son following occupational therapy services, most notably with the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol. When her children were older and she made the decision to return to school, she knew she wanted to complete her degree in occupational therapy in order to make a difference in children’s lives. Denise states seeing a child bloom and become able to overcome their challenges through occupational therapy is incredibly rewarding.
Denise is certified in Thermal Agents. She has also attended numerous courses in Sensory Integration, Sensory Diets, Motor Planning, School-based Occupational Therapy, Autism, Down Syndrome, and Executive Functioning Skills.
Hannah Stafford, COTA/L
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
Hannah graduated from Nashville State Community College with her Associate’s of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant program. She has always had an interest in the pediatric population specifically. Hannah completed her fieldwork placements with Putnam County School System for her Level II placement, and Little Hands Little Feet for a Level I placement. Hannah has many great qualities, but what sets her apart from others is her passion for learning and adaptability with sessions. We are excited to watch Hannah’s clinical knowledge and experience grow with us at Little Hands Little Feet!
Hannnah has two wonderful little ones and shares her life with her highschool sweetheart (plus a very cute Golden).
Maura Brewer, C-SLDI
Educational Support Specialist
Maura Brewer graduated with her bachelor's in Special Education in May of 2022. She has completed a Foundations of Literacy and Integration of Literacy courses through SMILA (Simultaneous Multi-sensory Institute of Language Arts). She is a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist. She provides simultaneous multisensory direct instruction for both math and reading. She loves watching students grow and accomplish academic goals.
Maura lives in Cookeville, TN with her husband, Noah. They take advantage of all the parks in the area and love to hike and camp. They recently added a precious little one to their family.
Kymm Sherman Lee, pt, DPT, MSPT
Kymm has been practicing as a pediatric physical therapist for over 30 years. Kymm graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy December, 2023 from The College of St Scholastica, in Duluth, MN. Kymm graduated with her advanced Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee at Memphis in 2003 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in 1993 from the University of Tennessee at Memphis. Kymm became a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy in 2002. Kymm has worked in almost all areas of pediatric physical therapy including acute care, ICU, TCU, spasticity management clinic, spina bifida clinic, school-based therapy, home health care, inpatient rehab, and outpatient rehab at various hospital and outpatient settings, including LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center and Vanderbilt’s pediatric home health. Kymm is an APTA certified clinical instructor and has performed numerous presentations to physical therapy students across the state. Kymm is an adjunct instructor at Tennessee Technological University in the College of Education, Curriculum and Instruction Department, where she teaches a class on management and support services for children with orthopedic, motor, and health impairments.
Kymm has attended numerous courses on Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT), including the baby, handling intensive, and gait courses. Kymm has also attended numerous courses on breathing and respiration, neuroplasticity and brain development, myofascial release, sensory integration, dynamic splinting, Cascade DAFOs, Surestep AFOs, spasticity management, developmental delays, torticollis, and is certified in dry needling of the lower extremities. Kymm recently completed her CASI Certification (Certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration) through CLASI.
Kymm is currently in training with her dog, Ally Grayce, to become a certified therapy dog. Kymm is married to her husband of 30 years, Darrell, and they have 3 dogs, Manny, Max, and Ally. Kymm and her husband love to travel and have visited all 50 states, 35 national parks, and 20 countries. They love to hike, kayak, and be outdoors.
Mica Simmons
Educational Support Specialist
Mica Simmons graduated Summa Cum Laude from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and a minor in Autism. With a strong passion for reading intervention and dyslexia-specific instruction, she is currently pursuing Wilson Reading System Level I Certification to further her expertise in structured literacy.
Outside of in the clinic, Mica enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. When they are not traveling to rodeos cheering on her daughter, she enjoys creative hobbies like quilting.
Kymm S. Lee, PT, DPT, MsPT
Facility Clinical Education Liason
Physical Therapist
Ally + Bodie
Certified Therapy Dog
Therapy dog in training
Nicole Gay
Physical Therapy Assistant
Bio to come
Danielle Geer
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Denise Enochs, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), graduated from Nashville State Community College in 2011. She has worked full-time at Putnam County Schools and part-time at Little Hands Little Feet Pediatric Therapies.
Denise became interested in occupational therapy when she saw the dramatic improvement in her son following occupational therapy services, most notably with the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol. When her children were older and she made the decision to return to school, she knew she wanted to complete her degree in occupational therapy in order to make a difference in children’s lives. Denise states seeing a child bloom and become able to overcome their challenges through occupational therapy is incredibly rewarding.
Denise is certified in Thermal Agents. She has also attended numerous courses in Sensory Integration, Sensory Diets, Motor Planning, School-based Occupational Therapy, Autism, Down Syndrome, and Executive Functioning Skills.